Lynnwood man advances to next round on ‘Dance’

Lynnwood's Casey Askew was in the bottom six contestants on last week's episode of Fox TV's “So You Think You Can Dance.”Askew, 19, made it through, however, and he continues on this week as part of this season's top 18 dancers. The show airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays on Channel 13.Askew's family, especially his mother and father Lisa and Dale Askew, have been on hand in Los Angeles to watch the show being taped.“Casey's having quite a ride. He says it's the most difficult thing of his life thus far,” Lisa Askew said. “But he is so passionate about dance. He's having a good time.”The Meadowdale High School graduate, now 19, began dancing at age 8, studying first at the former Camille's Dance Edge studio in Lynnwood. By the time he was in high school, Askew was flying to Los Angeles each weekend to study dance.“Casey had done his research. He knew what he wanted,” Lisa Askew said. “It was expensive, but we could not say no. What else are we going to spend our money on if we don't encourage our children? Casey has had a privileged life so far, but he's truly humble.”After auditions for the TV show were over, Casey Askew admitted to his mom that he had a lot of competition.“He said, ‘Wow, I have my work cut out for me.' Casey knows he has to continue to push himself,” Lisa Askew said. “It's very hard because everyone competing is so good. I am very proud of him for even trying.”Trained in hip hop, ballet, jazz, lyrical and ballroom dance, Casey Askew loves sports and strength training.He has said that he strives to connect physically with the music.“Everything he does is sort of an homage to all of his teachers and other people he's met on his journey,” Lisa Askew said. “He really is a gracious kid.”Elizabeth Lunsford of the Lynnwood Arts Commission said the organization is planning to honor Casey Askew in some way at the Celebrate! dance and music festival July 19 at the Lynnwood Convention Center, 3711 196th St. SW.Watch last week's episode of “So You Think You Can Dance” at www.fox.com/dance.

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